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First Peoples

200,000 years ago we took our first steps on the African savanna. Today there are 7 billion of us living across planet Earth.

How did our ancestors beat the odds and spread from continent to continent? What was the secret to their success?

This is a global detective story, featuring new fossil finds and the latest genetic research. It's a story that revolves around a shocking revelation. In prehistoric times, we met and mated with other types of human – like Neanderthals, Denisovans and Homo erectus. This mixing of genes helped us survive - and ultimately thrive.

Scientists are beginning to realize that ours is not a pedigree species, but a patchwork. We are all hybrids.

Show Info

Network: United States PBS (2015 - 2015)
Schedule: Wednesdays at 21:00 (60 min)
Status: Ended
Show Type: Documentary
Episodes ordered: 5 episodes

Official site: www.pbs.org

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Previous Episode

Europe

Episode 1x05; Jul 8, 2015

The final episode explores the arrival of Homo sapiens in prehistoric Europe. The Neanderthals were already present on the continent, and the two species were similar enough to interbreed, but the influx of modern humans had dire consequences for the

Previous Episodes

Episode NameAirdateTrailer
1x05: EuropeJul 8, 2015
1x04: AustraliaJul 1, 2015
1x03: AsiaJul 1, 2015
View full episode list »

Cast

Extra Details

Also known as:
  • Quand Homo sapiens peupla la planète (France France)
  • Einer von uns: Der Homo sapiens (Germany Germany)
  • Az első népek (Hungary Hungary)
  • De första folken (Sweden Sweden)
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